If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

white worm maggots on IPM board

I set up our IPM board to check for varroa mites. In addition to seeing
a number of mites I also saw a large number of white worm maggot looking
critters. They were very much alive and wiggling around. Is this a typical
pest (moth larvae??) or just some maggot type worms that have found their way
onto the IPM board. I didn't see them in the hive during our last inspection and
I don't recall reading about this type of pest. Thanks very much
for the insights.

Re: white worm maggots on IPM board

small hive beetles most likely, you need to do something soon or think about cleaning up that soon to be dead hive, remove every frame the bees do not absolutely need (full of brood or food) If you find any frame with SHB larva in it remove it regardless of what else is in the frame, the best way to kill larva in frames is 48 hour freezing, very heavy dose of PDB moth crystals will work but it takes about two boxes or packages per super to kill the nasties

Re: white worm maggots on IPM board

I found some of those worms on my sticky board last week.I started api life var Sunday for mites.Checked sticky board yesterday and today.Had 68 mites plus 2 hive beetles dead yesterday ,today had 100 mites plus 4 dead hive beetles.Sould I still go thru the hive and check it for shb larva? The beetles are about a 1/4 inch round.My sticky board is under screened bottom board.

Re: white worm maggots on IPM board

Capebee

IMHO freezing frames only addresses the frames in the freezer, not the colony. Sounds like your hive is at war with winter approaching. You could help, but if the war left them with low stores and numbers, your efforts may go unrewarded.

Re: white worm maggots on IPM board

I think you have nothing to worry about in a colder climate . . .Here's my experience. Last year I noticed THOUSANDS of white worms under my SBB. They were SHB. I am not kidding when I say thousands. . . . I believe that the SHB get under the SBB where they lay eggs undisturbed by the bees. The eggs hatch and fall to the pullout tray. I did nothing. Anyway, if you have a strong hive, I think you have nothing to worry about. My hive thrived last year. I got over a 125 lbs of honey off of it, and it made it through the winter and continues to thrive to this day.

Re: white worm maggots on IPM board

Originally Posted by c10250

I think you have nothing to worry about in a colder climate . . . Last year I noticed THOUSANDS of white worms under my SBB.

In my opinion, you were lucky. Those larvae started out in your comb. By the time they drop to the bottom they've done enormous damage. I've never seen a hive survive with hundreds, much less thousands, of shb larvae.
I would strongly encourage the original poster to do an inside the hive inspection.....soon.

Dan www.boogerhillbee.com
Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards

Re: white worm maggots on IPM board

Thanks all for the replies and suggestions. Our hive seems pretty strong. I put SHB traps with mineral oil and a bit of apple cider vinegar in the two hive bodies and will monitor how they help. I also put 2 apistan strips in each hive body and will keep a check on the mite count. This is all a learning experience. We've done pretty well so far as first year beeks......harvested 75 pounds of honey a few weeks ago. We're hooked. :-)